Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Anything Star Trek! I only own any original characters I create. First and foremost though, Star Trek is my inspiration and all credit goes to Gene Rodenberry and whoever else owns the franchise now. But really, thank God for Gene Rodenberry.
Chapter 4: This, Next
Spock's mind was rapidly becoming a blur of emotions, devoid of all logic. He had left the bridge and absentmindedly gone to the transporter room. He was now standing in the very spot his mother should have been standing if she was successfully transported aboard the Enterprise. He was teeming with guilt, fear, and anger.
"Speak your mind, Spock," Sarek said as he approached his son.
"That would be unwise," Spock replied softly.
"What is necessary is never unwise," he countered.
"I am as conflicted as I once was as a child," Spock admitted.
"You will always be a child of two worlds. I am grateful for this. And for you," Sarek informed him.
"I feel anger for the one who took mother's life. An anger I cannot control," Spock said passionately.
"I believe, as she would say, do not try to," Sarek said simply. "You asked me once why I married your mother. I married her because I loved her," Sarek told his confused son.
Spock's features revealed shock for a moment before he nodded his head slightly and turned away from his father. Sarek sighed and walked out of the transport room. Back on the bridge Sam let out a huff before storming off the bridge without any warning. She ran into Sarek as soon as she stepped through the turbo lift doors into the hallway.
"Do you know where he went?" she asked worriedly.
"If you are inquiring as to the location of my son he is currently calming himself in the transporter room. I believe you can guess which one," Sarek replied.
"Thank you," Sam said before running off.
When she entered the room Spock was still standing on the transporter pad attempting to quell his burning emotions. His love for his mother, his anger towards Nero, his guilt from his actions were all the front runners in the battle his mind raged.
"Spock," Sam's voice called lightly.
"You should report back to the bridge Samantha," he said quietly.
"You don't want to see me?" she challenged.
"I fear that if I look in your eyes I will only see disappointment and rejection. I simply cannot handle these emotions coming from you in such a desperate time," he admitted.
"Spock, if you turn around and look into my eyes all you'll see is worry and love. I love you. My brother is an ass, you lost control, but you stopped. Everything will turn out alright. We can work through this, work together to beat Nero. Please, help us," she plead.
"You love me, still?" he asked her incredulously as he turned to look at her.
"More than a thousand stars worth," she smiled.
"I love you also, more than logic can fathom, more than reason dictates," he said reaching out for her.
"If you believe in our love which defies logic and reason, then believe in the fight against Nero, help us," she said again.
"I will assist you in any way I can," he said pulling her to him in a bone crushing hug. "I ache when I see you in another's arms."
"Leo only does that because he thinks he's got to protect me all the time," Sam's voice was muffled since she was being held against his chest.
"He thinks that he should protect you from me?" Spock questioned.
"He doesn't know you like I do," she soothed. "Come on, let's go see what my brother's cooking up on the bridge. Promise not to almost kill him again?" she teased.
"I promise you that from this point onwards I will never endanger you or those close to you. Your happiness is more important to me than anything in this life," he told her fiercely.
"Spock, I was only teasing," she told him kissing his cheek and leading him to the bridge.
Jim watched his sister storm off the bridge, he opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. He looked at Bones with a questioning smirk but, Bones just scowled at him which was unusual. Jim hopped out of the Captain's chair and called over the remaining senior bridge officers to a console.
"Chekov, ideas?" he asked.
"Working on it sir," he responded and took over the terminal rapidly calculating figures.
"Bones, any idea where Sam went?" Jim asked his best friend.
"I don't think you want to know Jim," he responded.
"How about we focus on the matter at hand," Uhura suggested.
"Well, whatever the case, we need to get aboard Nero's ship undetected," Kirk said.
"And just go in there guns blazing, Jim. No..." Bones trailed off.
"I'm telling you the math doesn't support..." Sulu commented looking at some numbers on his PADD.
"Captain Kork, Captain Kork!" Chekov shouted gleefully.
"Yes, Chekov. What is it?" Kirk asked.
"Based on the fastest course from Wulcan, I have projected that Nero will travel past Saturn. Like you said, we need to stay inwisible to Nero or he'll destroy us. If Mister Scott can get us to warp factor four, and if we drop out of warp behind one of Saturn's moons, say, Titan, the magnetic distortion from the planet's rings will make us inwisible to Nero's sensors. From there, as long as the drill is not actiwated we can beam aboard the enemy ship," he rushed out in his thick Russian accent.
"Aye, that might work," Mr. Scott commented drying out his ears.
"Wait a minute, kid, how old are you?" McCoy asked skeptically.
"Seventeen, sir," Chekov said proudly.
"Oh, oh good, he's seventeen," Bones said sarcastically.
The lift doors whizzed open revealing Sam and Spock. The crew turned to look at them, many making the obvious connection that they were together. Jim though, just stared happily at his sister, thinking she had retrieved Spock in order to help him fulfill his mission.
"Doctor, Mister Chekov is correct. I can confirm his telemetry," Spock reported. "If Mister Sulu is able to maneuver us into position, I can beam aboard Nero's ship, steal back the black hole device, and if possible, bring back Captain Pike," Spock volunteered causing Sam to look at him in shock.
"I won't allow you to do that, Mister Spock," Jim said.
"Romulans and Vulcans share a common ancestry. Our cultural similarities will make it easier for me to access the ship's computer to locate the device. Also, my mother was Human, which makes Earth the only home I have left," Spock admitted.
"I'm coming with you," both Kirk's said simultaneously.
"I would cite regulation, but I know you will both simply ignore it," Spock replied.
"See, we are getting to know each other," Kirk remarked slapping Spock roughly on the shoulder. "Sammy, you're staying here though," Jim said carefully, knowing that he was treading in dangerous waters.
Sam just laughed at him and walked towards the weapons room. Before she left she gave orders to her brother's favorite security officer, famously known as Cupcake, to hold down the fort. McCoy followed behind her while Spock and Jim stayed on the bridge to give orders before they followed Sam and McCoy. Once all four friends were in the weapons room a tense silence settled over them. Sam began suiting up, changing her skirted uniform for a pant suit with holsters for several weapons.
"Sam," McCoy began.
"Stop Leo," she ordered.
"Sammy, we're just trying to protect you," Jim pleaded.
"No you're being overprotective oafs and it's really pissing me off," she growled.
"I believe logic would dictate that Samantha is well equipped to join us on our away mission. She is highly skilled in combat and has in depth knowledge of Romulan fighting techniques," Spock commented.
"Dammit man, is your green blood really that cold?" Bones shouted.
"I do not understand how the temperature of my blood has anything to do with my opinion of Miss. Kirk's competency," Spock responded.
"Leonard," Sam said sharply causing his retort to quell. "James Tiberius Kirk if you don't let me go on this mission I'm calling our mother, so help me God," Sam threatened.
"What good would that do? Earth is basically under attack," Jim responded with a smirk.
"Well if they don't blow it up she'll rip you a new one," Sam responded.
"Sammy, I don't want you to get hurt," he pleaded one last time.
"Jimmy, I can take care of myself," Sam returned the pleading look with her own much more convincing one.
"Fascinating," Spock commented.
"Fine, you can go, but you don't leave my side," Jim acquiesced.
"Dammit, you've all completely lost it!" Bones shouted.
Sam and Jim laughed and continued getting ready while Spock simply stared off into space. He had defended Sam's abilities but, now he felt as though his heart was burning. It may have been anticipation or fear for her safety. He brushed it aside and began preparing himself for the mission. Once they were all ready the headed for the transporter room where Mr. Scott was now waiting.
"We are in position above Titan," Sulu's voice came over the comm.
"Really? Fine job, Mister Sulu. Well done," Mr. Scott responded
"How are we, Scotty?" Jim asked as he, Sam, Bones, and Spock entered.
"Unbelievably, sir, the ship is in position," Scotty replied.
"Whatever happens, Mister Sulu, if you think you have the tactical advantage, you fire on that ship, even if we're still onboard. That's an order," Jim told him.
"Yes, sir," Sulu responded hesitantly.
"Otherwise, we'll contact the Enterprise when we're ready to be beamed back," Jim said.
"Good luck," Sulu remarked.
Sam, Spock, and Jim had stepped onto the platform and were preparing for transport. Bones hesitated a moment before cursing under his breath and stepping forward to Sam. He grabbed her face and kissed her passionately. She gasped at the contact and he slipped his tongue into her mouth deepening the kiss. She placed her hands on his chest and lightly pushed him away. He pulled away reluctantly and cradled her face in his hand.
"I'm sorry Sam, but I had to do it. If you didn't come back I wanted you to know exactly how I felt," he told her with so much emotion lacing his tone.
"Doctor McCoy, I believe it would be in your best interest if you returned to sickbay immediately," Spock said his voice low and dark.
"He'll never be able to be with you like I can," McCoy told her before kissing her once more and leaving.
Sam was stunned into silence for once. She stood there and closed her eyes, letting a tear slip out. Her best friend was in love with her and she was completely and totally in love with someone else. She didn't know what she was going to do. She felt someone's hands caress her face before their lips crushed to hers with bruising force. She knew it was Spock and responded eagerly wrapping her arms around his neck. He pried her mouth open and explored for a moment before light sucking on her bottom lip and pulling away.
"I love you and you are mine forever. I will be whatever you wish for me to be but, I will never let you go. I cannot breath without your love," he told her passionately.
"I love you too and I will never leave you. I need you more than you'll ever know," she told him honestly. "Now let's go kick some Romulan ass," she smirked.
Jim's jaw was absolutely dropped to the floor by now. Not only had his best friend made out with his sister in front of him but, Spock had professed his undying love for her after also making out with her right in front of him. He collected his wits and looked away before turning back to them still confused.
"So you two...?" he asked.
"Meet your future brother-in-law," Sam teased with a wink causing both men to blush.
"Okey-dokey then," Scotty said his face completely amused. "If there's any common sense in the design of the enemy ship, I should be putting you somewhere in the cargo bay. There shouldn't be a soul in sight," he told them.
"Energize," Jim ordered and the three were covered in white lights and transported to another place.
They were beamed aboard the Narada instantly and were quite surprised to find that they were completely surrounded by Romulans. All three Enterprise officers instantly began fighting their way to safety. Phaser fire and grunting could be heard throughout the large room they were in. Somewhere else in the ship Nero had been alerted of their presence and was not happy. The three officers had taken a reprieve and were hiding behind a bulkhead.
"I'll cover ya," Jim told Spock.
"Are you certain?" Spock asked looking across the hall at Sam who was firing occasionally at their attackers.
"Yeah, I got ya," Jim assured him.
Spock stepped out and approached the Romulan that Jim had stunned. He began to meld with him. He determined the location of the black hole device and Captain Pike. He could see the enormous amounts of torture Pike had been through and he cringed. Jim came out from his hiding place to shoot a Romulan approaching Spock and then knelt down next to Spock.
"Do you know where it is? The black hole device?" Jim asked.
"And Captain Pike," Spock responded.
Back aboard the Enterprise bridge their friends had seen the drill being dropped to earth. They no longer had communication with the away team or the ability to beam them to safety. Uhura was furious. Her best friend and the man she foolishly chose to love were aboard that ship.
"They have actiwated the drill," Chekov said sadly.
"Communication and transport are inoperative. Sulu, please tell me you have them. Otherwise, we won't be able to beam them back," Uhura pleaded.
"Sam, Jim and Spock are on their own now," the helmsmen responded gravely.
On the Narada Sam had split off from Spock and Jim. They had not seen her slip away but, they could only hope she would remain safe. They could not chase after her when they had a mission to complete. Both men ran into a large hanger bay and aboard a very sleek futuristic looking ship.
"I foresee a complication. The design of this ship is far more advanced than I've anticipated," Spock commented.
"Voice print and face recognition analysis enabled. Welcome back, Ambassador Spock," the computer's voice stated.
"Wow, that's weird," Jim said lightly.
"Computer, what is your manufacturing origin?" Spock questioned.
"Stardate twenty-three eighty-seven. Commissioned by the Vulcan Science Academy," the computer responded.
"It appears that you have been keeping important information from me," Spock said to Jim.
"You'll be able to fly this thing, right?" Kirk asked.
"Something tells me I already have," Spock responded amused.
"Good luck," Jim said before turning to walk away.
"Jim, the statistical likelihood that our plan will succeed is less than four point three percent," Spock informed him.
"It'll work," Jim assured him.
"In the event that I do not return, please tell Samantha..." he began.
"Spock, it'll work," Jim stressed before running out of the ship to find his sister and Captain Pike.
"Fascinating," Spock said as he sat in the pilot's chair and it began turning.
"Startup sequence initiated," the computer said.
Sam had been looking for the weapons control room on the ship. She hoped to disable it so that the Narada could do no more damage. Instead she found herself on the bridge, face to face with Captain Nero. He had an unpleasant sneer on his face as he looked at her. She turned to run, an unusual occurrence for her, but Nero jumped from his position down to the walkway she was on and gripped her shoulders tightly. She struggled and he slammed her into a bulkhead wall, keeping her still with his large body.
"If you are here it must mean Spock is as well," he whispered darkly. "I would love nothing more than to keep you all to myself but, your purpose is better served in torturing Spock," he told her.
His hands trailed down her shoulders to her waist and she cringed. She could see the dark lust in his eyes and something else. It looked like regret or familiarity. She reached her hand up to touch his face and was shocked with a reel of emotions and visions from his head.
Sam's mind was swarming with Nero's memories. They had met before in the other timeline. Sam couldn't imagine how that could be possible. She should have been long dead before that. Nero sensed her confusion and showed her second hand visions that she had shared with him. Sam had been accidentally exposed to a concentrated dose of red matter. It had elongated her life, strengthened her, and given her telepathic powers. Sam gasped and tried to pull away but Nero held her still and continued to push his memories inside of her.
Next she saw Nero and her meeting for the first time. Sam was married to Spock then, but they were having trouble. Nero had arrived at a time of doubt and he had fully taken advantage of that. Sam was forced to relive memories of herself in another timeline with Nero. They were rolling around in a bed with wispy fabrics draped all around it. Nero was completely in control. As soon as they were completely unclothed Sam came back to her senses and pushed him away but, he did not stop.
The present Sam was forced to relive the memories Nero had of taking her violently against her will. Afterwards, in too much pain to move, Sam had laid there and allowed Nero to whisper grand plans in her ear. She was eventually left in the room by herself and Nero returned to the Narada. It was then Sam realized that she was on Romulus.
The next vision was of Nero watching Romulus explode, with her on it. Spock had been trying to stop the devastation but he was too late. She could feel Nero's anger coupled with longing at the loss of herself in the other timeline. Finally Nero released her from the visions and pulled away. Sam was gasping for breath as she slumped to the floor.
Nero gestured to his first officer, Ayel, who brought forth a syringe filled with red liquid. He bent down to Sam's level and caressed her face in his hand. He kissed her forehead gently and then injected her with the very long syringe. Sam screamed in agony as the red liquid pushed into her blood stream.
"This will keep you with me for as long as I want. And the process of changing you will destroy Spock all over again," he whispered passionately.
"No!" Jim Kirk shouted seeing his sister in Nero's clutches.
"Nero back away from her and order your men to disable the drill or I will-" Jim was cut off by Ayel knocking him down with a swift punch to the throat.
"I know your face, from Earth's history," Nero said approaching Jim, leaving Sam writhing in pain on the floor.
"James T. Kirk was considered to be a great man. He went on to captain the USS Enterprise, but that was another life. A life I will deprive you of, just like I did your father," Nero remarked as their struggled resulted in Nero choking Jim.
Spock was aboard the future ship, he had managed to finally blast through the Narada and was flying towards the drill. He had felt Sam's pain and heard her screams in his mind. He reached out and attempted to soothe her as best he could, but continued his mission also. He fired at the drill and destroyed it. It went plummeting towards the earth.
"Captain Nero, the Vulcan ship has been taken, the drill has been destroyed," a Romulan officer informed Nero back aboard the Narada.
"Spock! Spooockk!" Nero yelled angrily.
He jumped away from Jim and went to Sam picking her up in his arms and returning to the control center on the bridge. Jim recovered from the harsh choking and stood up only to be faced with the first officer Ayel. Jim decided to opt for running away, uncharacteristic but smart. He leapt from one platform to another and barely made it catching himself on the edge, hanging precariously. Ayel jumped after him landing in front of him easily. He picked Jim up by the throat and sneered at him.
"Your species is even weaker than I expected," Ayel remarked.
"I can't..." Kirk mumbled choking.
"You can't even speak," Ayel said. Kirk mumbled something. "What?" Ayel asked.
"I got your gun," Jim choked out before grabbing Ayel's gun and shooting him.
Ayel fell into the bowels of the ship and Kirk pulled himself up onto the platform. He took a moment to recover before he continued his search for Captain Pike. He was infinitely worried for Sam but he knew that the sooner he found Pike the sooner they could beam out.
On the bridge of the Narada Nero was fuming. He held a half delirious Sam in his arms as he ordered a channel to be opened to the Vulcan ship Spock was now in control of.
"Open a channel," Nero said brushing some of the hair out of Sam's face.
"Yes, sir," an officer replied.
"Spock, I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance," Nero said.
"I hereby confiscate this illegally obtained ship and order you to surrender your vessel. No terms," Spock replied.
"Do you recognize this human?" Nero asked slyly.
"Spock looked at the screen and attempted to hide the shock on his face.
"She is an innocent security officer," Spock responded simply.
"She is very lovely. I think if I am about to die then I will have one last triumph," Nero told Spock mockingly.
"If you touch her I will kill you," Spock gritted through his teeth dangerously.
"I already have," Nero told him.
Spock closed the channel and ordered the computer to locate Sam's life sign and beam her aboard the ship he was on. There were a few complications, so he simply beamed her elsewhere on the Narada to where he believe her brother was headed.
"Where did she go?" Nero roared.
"He transported her elsewhere aboard the ship, Captain," an officer replied.
"That ship, take it out," Nero ordered.
"Sir, if you ignite the red matter..." the officer attempted to reason.
"I want Spock dead, now!" he shouted angrily.
"He went to warp, sir," an officer reported as the future ship blasted away.
"Go after him!" Nero yelled.
"Yes, sir!"
As Spock dropped out of warp he punched several commands into the console. He noticed the Narada had followed him and also dropped out of warp near him. He suspected they would be charging weapons in a moment and he changed several codes.
"Ambassador Spock, you are on a collision course," the computer remarked.
Spock ignored the computer and continued his course. Back aboard the Narada Nero was livid and completely irrational.
"Fire everything!" the Romulan Captain shouted.
"Incoming missiles. If the ship is hit, the red matter would be ignited," the computer's voice informed Spock aboard the Vulcan future ship.
"Understood," Spock responded.
"Captain, I've picked up another ship," a Romulan officer reported to Nero aboard the Narada.
The Enterprise appeared in the vacant part of space and began firing at the Romulan ship and the weapons heading for Spock. Sulu was in command and doing his best to support his Captain's wishes. Uhura was teeming with worry and McCoy was standing by in the transporter room with a medical team, knowing how Jim and Sam always were.
In the torture room of the Narada Sam had been beamed next to Captain Pike. She was unconscious on the floor though and Pike had not seen her arrive. Jim ran through the door and took notice of both his sister and the only father figure he'd ever had. Pike looked down at the floor and noticed Sam.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked surprised.
Two Romulan officers appeared in the doorway as Jim was undoing Pike's restraints and the injured man quickly pulled out Kirk's stolen weapon and shot them both. Jim completely released Pike from the table and stood him up before picking Sam up from the floor.
"Just following orders," he smirked carrying Sam as Pike leaned on him for support. "Enterprise go!" he ordered.
The Vulcan future ship collided with the Narada just as the away team and Pike were beamed back aboard the Enterprise. Spock looked to the side and saw Sam in Jim's arms. He immediately took her from him so Jim could fully support Pike who was looking worse for wear.
"Nice timing, Scotty," Jim said.
"Ha ha ha ha! I've never beamed four people with only three signals from two targets onto one pad before," Scotty shouted excitedly.
"Jim! Sam!" the worried doctor shouted as he approached them.
"Bones!" Jim replied in relief.
"I've got them," he said as a male nurse helped Pike and McCoy took Sam out of Spock's arms.
Spock did not want to let Sam go, but he knew he must accompany the Captain to the bridge to deal with the remnants of the Romulan ship. He and Jim ran out of the room to the bridge. Followed by Uhura who was being dragged along by Jim.
"That was pretty good," Scotty said as the left in reference to his work.
"Captain, the enemy ship is losing power. Their shields are down, sir," Chekov reported as they arrived on the bridge.
"Hail them now," Kirk ordered still holding Uhura's hand.
"Aye," the young ensign replied.
Nero appeared on the view screen as his ship blew apart in the back ground. Kirk clutched to Uhura tighter and she blushed fiercely.
"This is Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise. Your ship is compromised. Your too close to the singularity to provide assistance, which we will provide," Jim stated reluctantly.
"Captain, what are you doing?" Spock asked him turning away from the screen.
"You show them compassion may be the only way to earn peace with Romulus. It's logic, Spock. Thought you'd like that," Jim said turning around as well.
"No, not really. Not this time," Spock told him.
"I would rather suffer the end of Romulus a thousand times. I would rather die in agony than accept assistance from you," Nero viciously said.
"You got it. Arm phasers, fire everything we got," Jim ordered Sulu ending the transmission.
"Yes, sir," Sulu responded.
The Narada was sucked into a black hole of massive proportions as the Enterprise assured it's destruction with its weapons. Finally when the ship was no more Jim breathed a sigh of relief and let go of Uhura's hand smiling sheepishly at her.
"Sulu, let's go home!" Kirk ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the helmsmen replied.
However, the Enterprise was much too close to the black hole and the gravity wells were sucking them into it. The ship was tiny in comparison to the singularity and the force and gravity associated with it were exponential.
"Why aren't we at warp?" Jim asked sitting down in the Captain's chair as Uhura returned to her station.
"We are, sir," Chekov said.
"Kirk to engineering. Get us out of here, Scotty," Jim called over the comm.
In engineering Scotty was running about like a mad man. He was attempting to realign different parts of the ship in order to boost the power an slip away from the control of the black hole's gravity.
"You bet your arse, Captain!" he responded. "Captain, we're going, the gravity well has got us!" he shouted a few moments later.
"Go to maximum warp. Push it!" Jim ordered.
"I'm giving her all that she's got, Captain!" Scotty yelled desperately.
Back on the bridge the ceiling panels and bulkheads began to crack causing the bridge crew to become panicked. Jim remained as calm as possible and called back to Scotty over the comm.
"All she's got isn't good enough. What else you got?" he asked.
"Okay. If we eject the core and detonate, the blast could be enough to push us away! I cannae promise anything, though!" he responded.
"Do it, do it, do it!" Kirk shouted noticing the situation getting worse.
In sickbay both Pike and Sam had been deposited on biobeds and were being scanned. McCoy determined that Pike was in need of immediate surgery to remove the slug that was attached to his spine. As the nurses began prepping Pike, Sam awoke with a scream. Leo rushed over to her and held her sill as he scanned her. He detected the red matter and saw that it was ravishing her systems. He quickly made a decision as to what he could do, which wasn't much.
"Nurse Chapel, administer the lowest dose of combined pain meds and stimulants we have directly into her system every five minutes. Got it?" he ordered quickly.
"Yes, sir," she responded trusting him completely.
As McCoy worked on removing the slug from Pike he continued to hear Sam's screams from the other room. The surgery was successful and the other nurses cleaned Pike up and started working on his other injuries. Leo returned to Sam's side and cringed when she let out an especially shrill scream. He watched as she struggled with the changes her body was making due to the red matter and he wished he knew how to make it better.
Outside of the Enterprise several pieces of the warp core were ejected from the ship and detonated into the black hole. It gave the Enterprise just enough push to send it flying away from the dangerous singularity. They continued on what power they had left, back to Earth, which wasn't very far away.
As soon as the ship was out of harm's way; Spock, Uhura, and Jim rushed to sickbay to check on Sam and Pike. They were shocked to find Pike recovering just fine and Sam screaming her head off while her skin glowed red and she burned anyone's skin she touched. Jim stepped forward wanting to help his sister but Spock held him back. He gestured for Uhura to console the worried Captain and instead walked towards Sam's writhing form.
"Our minds, one and together,' Spock said as he initiated a meld.
As Spock entered her mind all he could see was red. He felt the searing heat coming from her skin and a blazing sensation leaking from her mind. Her body was transforming and her mind could not handle it. She was losing any and all emotional stability. Spock used the meditation techniques he was taught as a child to lead her mind elsewhere. She resisted and there was a wall of memories she kept replaying that was blocking Spock from continuing. He began to probe these memories...
"Hello," an older version of Sam said to a cleaner, happier version of Nero.
She smiled coyly at the Romulan. She could sense his troubled thoughts. He had lost his wife and child recently in childbirth and he was devastated. She longed to delve into his mind and correct the pain. This was an urge she often had due to her enhanced abilities.
"You're sad. I can feel it," she told him.
"I am forever broken," he responded simply.
Nero felt compelled to tell this woman all of his thoughts. He could see the honest care in her eyes, and behind her mask he could see pain and loss close to his own. This woman had watched many of those close to her die. He could find a commonalities in her. He would be truthful with her and keep her near him as long as he could.
"You won't be that way forever. I could help you," she offered.
"I do not believe you could, but if you want to try be my guest," he told her.
Spock felt confusion. How could Sam have memories of her alternate timeline self. He could only conclude that Nero had given her these memories. Sam was dwelling on them in an attempt to resolve them. The next memory hit him hard and he cringed in pain.
Nero and Sam sat on a balcony overlooking Romulus as they melded. Sam probed his memories and tried to resolve them and bring forth the happy ones for him to dwell on. Secretly, while her guard was down, Nero was probing Sam's mind as well. He saw her childhood and her relationship with Spock. He could sense the anger she held towards him for something. As they came out of the meld Sam realized that Nero had seen part of her mind as well.
"You saw," she said simply.
"I saw several things, which one do you mean?" he smirked at her.
He was devilishly handsome, Sam had observed this before. He would often try to flirt with her and she would try her hardest to quell his attempts quietly. He was unrelenting though and Sam was angry at her bonded lover, Spock. She wished to hurt him as he hurt her.
Spock felt a wave of intense betrayal sweep over him. It was the feeling Samantha had felt from him in the alternate timeline. She had been devastated by something he had done. She was so completely dejected and disappointed in Spock that it was carving a hole in her heart. Spock continued watching the memory play out with a renewed sense of pain.
"You saw my issues with my husband, the man I am bonded to and love," she told him.
"You are very angry with him. What did he do?" Nero asked.
"He betrayed our bond. Truthfully he had no option because he was far away and his alternative was to die. The reason I am so angry with him is because his only defense was that it was logical," Sam told him sadly.
"Logic is what Vulcans depend on. They are weak and filled with fault. Romulans give into their emotions. We allow our desires to show. We act on them," he said as he moved closer to her.
"Nero, I can't do this," she said turning away.
He gently grabbed her chin and turned her face towards him. He initiated an impromptu mind meld and flooded her with his emotions. She gasped and became instantly aroused. He was so passionate and full of life. Spock had shown her his emotions before but never at such a magnitude and so quickly and easily. Nero leaned forward and kissed her lightly. The light kiss though, soon turned heavy and he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
Their kiss continued and he trailed his lips down her throat to the base of her neck where he bit down savagely causing Sam to pull away in pain. She didn't want this, it had to stop. She struggled against him but he only continued, his lust completely taking over. He had both of them undressed in a matter of minutes. His hands roaming her body roughly causing her to whimper and moan against her will.
"I can do things to you that he never has, that he never can," Nero whispered darkly in her ear.
"I won't replace her. I don't want to," Sam said weakly.
"You don't have a choice," Nero muttered angrily and then thrust into her roughly.
He continued using Sam's body as she cried out in protest and pain. Nero tired of her resistance and melded with her, overcoming her mind and forcing her to enjoy his angry thrusts. He pushed his lust, want, need, and contentment into her forcefully causing her to cry out as she released herself. She came unbound as Nero did the same inside of her and tears slipped down her face.
"You will not leave me like she did," he said simply.
Sam cried herself to sleep calling out to Spock in their bond, but received no reply. She felt hopeless and abandoned. Nero could sense all of this. He had forced apart her bond with Spock and initiated one with himself. He fell asleep with her locked in his arms. He was content again, no Vulcan would take that from him.
Tears streamed down Spock's face as he felt all of Sam's emotions from the memory of her alternate timeline self. He hated himself in that moment. He hated Nero. He was filled with so much hate that his grip on her face tightened and he delved back into her mind with a fury inhuman and insurmountable.
Nero was standing on the bridge of the Narada, watching as Romulus exploded. His bond with Samantha severed. He could feel her life end. It was devastating and complete. He was doubly angry at the loss of another love and blamed Spock, absolutely. He would do anything to end the Vulcan.
Spock pushed past all of these memories and found himself standing in a small room. It was bare except for a ball of red matter floating in the center. Sam was huddled in the corner crying and screaming in pain. She was reliving memories that were not hers, and she was changing. It was entirely too much.
"Samantha," Spock said to her in the room inside her mind.
"Spock, oh Spock," she cried and ran to him.
"You must let go of these memories Nero has given you. They will only make this process more difficult. Allow me to perform a secondary meld and share your pain," he told her.
"Spock, it's too much I don't want you to feel this," she said stepping away.
"I will help you with or without consent. I will not watch you suffer," he told her passionately.
"Okay," she replied weakly.
He attached his hands to her face and made his way deeper into her mind. He expelled the memories Nero had placed in her and then moved on to strengthen her mind against the red matter. He could feel pain all around him, but he ignored it. He was building walls and detours in her mind. It was helping the red matter to only change her body and leave her mind untouched. Her body would survive unprotected but, her mind would not. He succeeded and pulled out of both melds, collapsing on the floor.
"Spock!" Jim shouted rushing to his aide. "Spock are you alright?" he asked as McCoy came over to scan him.
"I am fine, as is Samantha, she will awaken a different person physically but not mentally," he said breathing heavily.
"Dammit you crazy pointy eared masochist! You're half dead. Get him up on the bed Jim," Bones ordered.
Jim lifted Spock onto the biobed and let his gaze wander between his friend and his sister. He was infinitely grateful to Spock for saving his sister, stopping her screams, but he was incredibly worried about the half-Vulcan who lay half-dead before him. Uhura walked to his side and reassuringly squeezed his hand. He turned to her and surprised her by completely wrapping his arms around her and hugging her to him. She returned his affections, as she too was worried for her friends.
"Sam is stabilizing, but I'm putting her to sleep for a couple days just in case. Spock just went into deep meditation so we'll let that take its course. By the time we get back to Earth they should be awake," Bones told them.
"I sure hope so Bones, I sure hope so," Jim said sadly.
For a man who didn't believe in no-win situations he felt incredibly hopeless standing between his sister and his first officer's beds. Without them he didn't know what to do. They had to be okay. If they weren't, the Enterprise wouldn't be.